Nursing: Analyzing HIV, Tanner Stage Variations & Pap Smear Tests

This nursing assignment provides a detailed analysis of several key topics. It begins with a discussion of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), including its presenting symptoms and signs, diagnostic testing methods such as ELISA and Viral Load Tests, evidence-based treatment approaches, and the importance of patient education and prevention strategies, particularly among young adults. The assignment then explores Tanner staging, also known as Sexual Maturity Rating (SMR), discussing how cultural factors can influence the timing of puberty and adolescent development. Finally, it examines the Bethesda Classification system for Pap smear testing, outlining the purpose of Pap smears in detecting cervical cancer, common causes of abnormal results like infections and HPV, and recommended treatments such as conization and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). This assignment is available on Desklib, a platform offering a wide array of study tools and resources for students.

Running head: NURSING
Nursing
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Discussion Question 1
Selecta sexually transmitted illness (STI). Discuss the presenting symptoms and signs,
diagnostic testing, findings, evidence-based treatment, along with the patient education.
The chosen sexually transmitted illness to be analyzed is Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV). The presenting signs and symptoms of the mentioned disease are as follows:
1. Anal, genital, oral and perianal ulcers
2. Urethritis
3. Cervicitis
4. Vaginal or urethral discharge
5. Genitalwarts
In the early stage of HIV which lasts for approximately 6 months includes flue like symptoms
along with fever, chills, rash, night sweats, fatigue and swollen lymph nodes (Relf et al., 2013).
The exam findings of the mentioned disease include symptoms like rapid weight loss, extreme
tiredness, long lasting Diarrhea, Pneumonia, depression, memory loss as well as other
neurological disorders. Apart from the blood test, other diagnostic tests that are used to detect
HIV in a healthcare service user include ELISA test, Saliva tests, Home tests and Viral Load
Test. The ELISA stage stands for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. If ELISA Test is
positive, then the Western blot test is performed. Evidenced-based treatment is mostly provided
to individuals who are suffering from depression resulted due to HIV (Relf et al., 2013). First-
line treatment regimens for depression include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs),
cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), or a combination of SSRI and CBT. According to a
survey, 24 percent of the youths in the USA are found to be suffering from HIV (Grebely et al.,

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2013). To prevent this, the government of USA has initiated compulsory sex education in
schools and Universities of the nation.
Discussion Question 2
Does Tanner staging differ from culture to culture? Discuss causes? Support your answers
with suitable example of one culture with apropriate citation.
Tanner staging, popularly known as Sexual Maturity Rating (SMR) can be defined as an
objective classification system which is used by the providers to document and track the
development as well as the sequence of secondary sex characteristics of children during their
puberty.
The puberty stage of an individual is highly dependant on the culture of his family as well
as the society he is residing. This is because, according to researchers, 83.9 percent of the
adolescent development occurs outside the home (Oh et al., 2012). The sexual psychology of a
child gets greatly affected by the moral standards, sense of independence, education as well as
the amount of open sexual activities. For instance, in developed countries like the USA, the
puberty of a male or a female child arrives much later compared to that of underdeveloped
countries like Ghana.
Discussion Question 3
Discussion on Bethesda Classification of Pap smear testing and evaluation, common causes
of abnormal Pap smear and recommended treatments
The aim of the Bethesda Pap Smear system is to simplify Papanicolaou smear reporting and
make it more reproducible. The pap smear testing is defined to detect cervical cancer in women.

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The mentioned test is a microscopic examination of the cell taken from uterine (Adams et al.,
2015). The mentioned system redefines the pap smear request as a medical consultation. Some of
the common causes behind pap smears are as follows:
1. An infection or an inflammation
2. Herpes
3. Recent sexual activities
4. Trichomoniasis
5. HPV (Human Papilloma Virus)
Two of the recommended treatments are as follows:
1. Conization: This treatment involves a cone-shaped piece of the cervix which consists of
affectedcells that have been removed.
2. Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP): A thin loop of thin wire that carries low
voltagecurrent enough to remove affected areas of the cervix (Kim et al., 2013).

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Reference List
Adams, A. L., Gidley, J., Roberson, J., Wang, W., Eltoum, I., & Chhieng, D. C. (2015). Clinical
significance of unsatisfactory conventional pap smears owing to inadequate squamous
cellularity defined by the Bethesda 2001 criterion. American journal of clinical
pathology, 123(5), 738-743.
Grebely, J., Oser, M., Taylor, L. E., & Dore, G. J. (2013). Breaking down the barriers to hepatitis
C virus (HCV) treatment among individuals with HCV/HIV coinfection: action required
at the system, provider, and patient levels. The Journal of infectious
diseases, 207(suppl_1), S19-S25.
Kim, S.S., Suh, D.S., Kim, K.H., Yoon, M.S. & Choi, K.U. (2013). Clinicopathological
significance of atypical glandular cells on Pap smear. Obstetrics & gynaecology
science, 56(2), 76-83.
Oh, J., Conlan, S., Polley, E. C., Segre, J. A., & Kong, H. H. (2012). Shifts in human skin and
nares microbiota of healthy children and adults. Genome medicine, 4(10), 77.
Relf, M. V., Eisbach, S., Okine, K. N., & Ward, T. (2013). Evidence-based clinical practice
guidelines for managing depression in persons living with HIV. Journal of the
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 24(1), S15-S28.